Ladder.



D. C. WHETE.

LADDER.

APPLIBATION FILED NOV. 25, 1916- v 1 53,114}? Patented Jan. 8,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- msmm D. C. WHITE.

-LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25. 1916.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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DICK 0. WHITE, or ALBANY, onneonnssrenon TO FAR wns'r MANUFACTURING 00., or ALBANY, OREGON, A CORPORATION OF onneon.

' sides in the construction of a novel form of means for connecting the supplemental section of the ladder with the main ladder section, which when the step ladder is con} verted into an extensiondadder will prevent any accidental lateral movements of the supplemental section with respect to the main section.

Vith the above and other objects in view the improvement residesin the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forthin the following specification and falling within the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the structure set up as a step ladder,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the structure set up as an extension ladder,

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the step ladder clearly illustrating the hinged connection of the supplemental section with the main section,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the clips for holding the supplemental section in extended position, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the hinge connection of the sections when removed from the ladder.

Reference being had more particularly to the accompanying drawings, 5 denotes the main section of the ladder while the character 6 denotes the supplemental section of the ladder. The main section 5 consists of the usual side bars 7 connected to one another by the usual rungs 8, whereas the supplemental section 6 embodies the usual side bars 9 and rungs 10. It will be observed that when the ladder is converted into a step ladder this supplemental section 6 will serve as a prop therefor and to this end use is made of a brace 11 constructed of a single strand of wire including a hook Specification of Letters Patent.

LADDER.

Patented Jan. a, 19%..

Application filed November 25, 1916. Serial No. 133,421.

12 and diverging limbs 13. The limbs terminate in trunnions 14L ournaled in the side bars 7 of the main section for supportingthe brace thereto and adapting the same for a vertical swinging movement. It is obvious that this brace whenin active position has its hooked end 12 embracing or contacting with one of the rungs 10 of the supplemental section thus preventing any accidental folding or collapsing of the ladder when being utilized as a step ladder.

The chief characteristic of this invention resides in the production of the novel hinge construction, denoted generally by the reference character 15, for so connecting the supplemental section with the main section of the ladder whereby when the supplemental section is swung to convert the ladder into an extension ladder guards against any accidental lateral movements of said supplementtal section with respect to the main section. To this 'end this hinge construction embodies a pair of L-shaped metallic straps 16 and 17 respectively, the strap 16 being transversely connected to and eXteriorly of the side bars 7 of the main section, whereas the straps 17 are secured transversely of and to the inner face of the side bars 9 of said supplemental section and at a point adjacent the upper end of said bars. These straps when in supporting position dispose the hooked ends 18 thereof in contact with the outer longitudinal edges 19 of the respective side bars 7 and 9. The vertical portion 20 of each of the straps is of greater length than the transverse width of the bars and the extended extremities of the portions 20 provide the straps with apertured bearings 21 and 22 respectively. The bearing 22 of the strap 17 overlaps the bearing 21 alining the apertures 23 thereof with one another for the reception of a pintle rod 24. It will therefore be seen that this manner of connecting the supplemental section with the main section disposes the side bars 9 of the supplemental section exteriorly of and beyond the plane of the outer side faces of the side bars 7. When the ladder is converted into an extension ladder the portions 20 of said straps will frictionally contact with one another and the longitudinal edges of the supplemental section will be disposed flush with the longitudinal edges of the side bars of the main section, thus disposing the rungs 10 of the supplemental sectipn in vertical alinement with the rungs 8 of the main sectron. In order that caution may be exercised in preventing the accidental collapsing of the ladder when being employed as an 'eX-- adapted to slide over the upper extremities of the side bars 7 of themain section.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing,the simplicity of the device, as well as the advantages thereof will, it is thought, .be perfectly apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which such invention appertains without further detailed description Having thus described The invention, what I'claim is: a a a.

1. A ladder comprising a main section and a supplemental section each formed with a pair of bars and rungs connecting said bars, means forhingedly connecting the supplemental section with said main section comprising a pair of L-shaped straps; one of said straps being connected with the; outer side face of the main section while'the other of said strapsbeingconnected to the inner side face of the opposite section and adapted to frictionally engage with one another upon the swinging of the supplemental section to convert the ladder into an extension ladder, a portion of said straps extending beyond the rear edge of the side rails of the ladder and provided with apertures, a 'pin passing through the. apertures of the protruding portions of the straps for hingedly connecting the ladder sections together and to dispose the rungsof the supplemental sectionin alinement with the rungs of the main section.

2. A ladder comprising a main section and a supplemental section each formed with a pair of side bars and rungs connecting said bars, nneans for hingedly connecting the sup plemental section with said main section comprising a pair of L-shaped straps, one of said straps being connected with the outer sideface of the main section while the other of said strap-s being connected to the inner side face of "the opposite'section and adapt ed to frictionally engage with one another upon the swinging of the supplemental section to convert the ladder into an extension ladder, a portion of said straps extending beyond the rear edge of the side rails of the ladder and provided with apertures, a pin passing througl'r the apertures of thc protruding portions of the plates for hingedly connectingthe ladder sections together and to dispose the rungs of the supplemental section in a-linementwith the rungs of the main section, and means slidably mounted on the side bars of the supplemental section andembracing the upper extremities of the side bars of the main section for preventing any accidental folding of the ladder and retaining the, same in an extended position.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

D101: c. WHITE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .Patents,

"washington D. C. 

